How Real Madrid could line up against Manchester City

Real Madrid's attacking ranks will be boosted by the return of Vinicius Junior for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Manchester City at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

The Brazil international was suspended for Los Blancos' last La Liga contest - a 2-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao on March 31 - but an immediate recall to the first XI now awaits; ex-Man City prospect Brahim Diaz should therefore make way.

However, the same probably cannot be said for Eder Militao, who made his comeback from a cruciate ligament injury in that fixture but was only given a couple of minutes off the bench in second-half injury time.

As a result, Carlo Ancelotti may resist the urge to throw Militao straight back into the starting lineup, and the Blancos boss is still without David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois due to their own knee problems.

Now firmly ahead of Chelsea-owned Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order, Andriy Lunin guards the sticks for Real Madrid, protected by familiar defensive faces in Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rudiger.

The only real dilemma that Ancelotti has regards Aurelien Tchouameni, who is capable of filling in at the heart of defence, and his deployment at the back would open up a spot in midfield for Eduardo Camavinga or Luka Modric to stake their claim for a start.

However, Ancelotti has no real reason to demote captain Nacho Fernandez from the XI amid Real's 13-game unbeaten run, so Tchouameni ought to continue in the midfield trident with Federico Valverde and Toni Kroos.

Former City target Jude Bellingham - scorer of four Champions League goals this season - operates in his advanced midfield role as ever, most likely behind the Brazilian pairing of Vinicius and Rodrygo.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Kroos; Bellingham; Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo

> Click here to see how Man City could line up for the first leg